ADHD From Adolescence to Adulthood: Closing the Gap in the Continuum of Care

Transcription

1 ADHD From Adolescence to Adulthood: Closing the Gap in the Continuum of Care A Critical Period in ADHD: The Transition From Adolescence to Adulthood David Coghill, BSc, MB ChB, MD, FRCPsych University of Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Melbourne, Australia Implementing an Effective Transition to Adult Management of ADHD Philip Asherson, MBBS, MRCPsych, PhD King's College London The Maudsley Hospital London, United Kingdom Test your knowledge, share your thoughts, and download activity materials at:

2 Learning Objectives Recognise the challenges and risks associated with transitioning from adolescence to adulthood for patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Differentiate childhood and adult ADHD with regards to symptom presentation and clinical management strategies Apply patient-centred strategies to manage ADHD through the transitional phase from adolescence to adulthood, based on current guidelines Content developed in concert with the faculty. November 15,

3 A Critical Period in ADHD: The Transition From Adolescence to Adulthood David Coghill, BSc, MB ChB, MD, FRCPsych University of Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Melbourne, Australia Prof. Coghill: Today, we're going to talk about the need to improve the transition from child-centred services to adult services for patients with ADHD. We have to remember that late adolescence/early adulthood is a time of great change in the lives of young people as they move from formal education at school into higher education or on to work. It s a time when many young adults become more independent. However, it s also a time when many people get lost, as far as their care goes. So the need to have a good transition is really important and should be a priority for all of us. Persistence on Treatment Over Time in Adolescents With ADHD 1 Proportion of Patients on Treatment Patients Aged 15 y in 1999 Remaining in Treatment for Each 1-y Change in Age (N = 44) a Expected persistence Observed persistence Censored ADHD Through a Lifetime: Declining but Persistent Symptoms 1 Persistence, % Age-Dependent Decline and Persistence of ADHD a 71% 65% 25 Impairing symptoms Functional impairment 15% Full diagnostic criteria Mean Age at Follow-Up, y Age, y a Descriptive cohort study using UK General Practice Research Database including patients aged y from 1999 to Reference(s): 1. McCarthy S et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2009;194: Despite the fact that we know that ADHD persists into adulthood, the evidence that we have suggests that many patients who were treated as children drop out of treatment at some point during adolescence and don t get the benefits of a good quality transition. a Based on data from an independent, longitudinal study and a meta-analysis of follow-up studies that have assessed children with ADHD. Abbreviation(s): ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Reference(s): 1. Faraone SV et al. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015;1: doi: /nrdp ADHD is now very clearly accepted as a lifelong disorder. It's interesting that when we look at the rates of ADHD from adolescence into adulthood, we see that whilst perhaps only 15% of those with ADHD in childhood continue to meet the full diagnostic criteria for ADHD in adulthood, around two-thirds will continue to have very significant functional impairments related to their ADHD. Risks of Transition in ADHD: From Adolescence to Adulthood 1 Health problems and psychiatric Social disability comorbidities Risky behaviours Premature mortality Psychological dysfunction Academic and occupational failure Overweight, obesity, and hypertension Delinquency and criminality, smoking and addictions Specific learning disabilities and executive dysfunction Disruptive behaviour, mood, anxiety, elimination, tic and autism spectrum disorders Developmental coordination disorder, Marital discord, separation and divorce, parenting and speech and language disorders problems, and legal problems, arrests and incarcerations Poor social skills, impaired family relationships, poor peer relationships, and rejection by peers Suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide Lower quality of life and low self-esteem Emotional dysregulation and lack of motivation Underachievement, grade repetition, special education needs, Reduced occupational performance, unemployment school expulsion and dropping out and lower socioeconomic status Unplanned pregnancies Accidents and injuries, traffic accidents and violations, and licence suspensions Childhood Adolescence Adulthood Reference(s): 1. Faraone SV et al. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015;1: doi: /nrdp

4 So why is a good transition of care so important? Well ADHD actually impacts a whole range of different aspects in a person's life. While some of these issues start early and continue to affect people throughout their lives, others will arise as life goes on. Because of this, the kind of support and care that we need to give children, young people, and adults with ADHD changes over time. And you can see in this slide that ADHD is associated with a range of health problems, including physical and psychiatric comorbidities, psychological dysfunction, social disability, academic and occupational failure, and a whole range of risky behaviours. Specific examples include unplanned pregnancies, trouble at work, increase in suicidal ideation and attempts, and marital discord. Many of these arise mainly in that phase between adolescence and adulthood. Link Between ADHD and Increased Mortality Risk 1 And that increase in mortality can be due to a range of factors, including other psychiatric problems, substance use disorders, and other risky behaviours. Increased Prevalence of Comorbid Psychiatric Issues in Adults With ADHD 1 OR vs Those Without ADHD Comorbid Disorders Associated With ADHD in Adults a Mood Disorders Anxiety disorders Substance Abuse 2.7* MDD 7.5* 7.4* Dysthymia BPD 5* Any Mood Disorder 5.5* 4.9* 3.9* 3.7* 3.2* 2.8* 1.5 Generalised Anxiety PTSD Agoraphobia Speci c Phobia Social Phobia OCD Any Anxiety * P<.05. a A screen for adult ADHD was included in a probability sub-sample (n = 3,199) of y old respondents in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), a nationally representative household survey assessing a wide range of DSM-IV disorders. Blinded clinical follow-up interviews of adult ADHD were carried out with 154 NCS-R respondents, over-sampling those with a positive screen. 1.5 Drug Abuse 7.9* 3* Drug Dependence Any SUD Mortality Rate per 10,000 Person-Years Individuals With ADHD ADHD-Related Mortality: Danish National Registers Data a By Diagnosis P < Individuals Without ADHD Adjusted MRR According to Age at First Diagnosis of ADHD By Age Group <6 y 6-17 y 18 y * P value is overall effect of being diagnosed with ADHD at different ages vs individuals without ADHD. a Follow-up (24.9 million person-years) of 1.92 million individuals, including 32,061 with ADHD from first birthday through 2013 using the Danish National registers P <.0001* Abbreviation(s): MRR: mortality rate ratio. Reference(s): 1. Dalsgaard S et al. Lancet. 2015;385: Perhaps the most striking and serious repercussion of ADHD is a marked increase in mortality. As shown here in real-world registry data from Denmark, you see that rates of mortality are over twice as high in those with ADHD versus those without. But perhaps what's even more important is to see how that increase in mortality changes over time. Whilst in the child and adolescent population, the increase is about one and a half times. When you look at those over 18 years of age with ADHD, the increase in mortality can be up to four times higher versus those without ADHD, which is really very high, very significant Abbreviation(s): BPD: bipolar disorder; DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition); MDD: major depressive disorder; OCD: obsessive-compulsive disorder; OR: odds ratio; PTSD: post-traumatic stress disorder; SUD: substance use disorder. Reference(s): 1. Kessler RC et al. Am J Psychiatry. 2006;163: Co-occurring psychiatric problems are common in these patients. In fact, it's really uncommon to find an adult with ADHD who only has ADHD and doesn't have other problems. There are very significant increases in mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse; drug dependence is one of the most common factors associated with ADHD in adults. And we see it not just with illegal substances, but also with legal substances, like nicotine and alcohol. Nicotine dependence is twice as high in adults with ADHD as those without ADHD. And it's interesting to think about why we see these associations. And similar to the mortality risk, this is likely to be due to a range of different things, including higher levels of novelty-seeking behaviour and impulsivity, impaired social or academic functioning, and even self-treatment to make themselves feel calmer. So, of course, this is something that's much more likely to happen when the ADHD itself isn't well treated. 4

5 Other Potential Negative Consequences of Untreated Adult ADHD Referral to Adult Services: Best Practices for Transitioning 1 Adolescents and adults with ADHD are more likely to 1-6 Area of Focus Clinician Goal School-Related Have poor academic performance Have suspensions during high school Need academic tutoring Attend special education during high school Repeat one or more grades Work-Related Have a high number of full time jobs Be fired from employment one or more times Take a lot of sick days Have lower annual income Have trouble paying bills Social-Related Have trouble making friends Have first sexual intercourse at a young age Have a high number of sexual partners Move more frequently Have driving offences or accidents Patient-clinician relationship Care team responsibilities Individualised care planning Plan for early transition and maintain continuity of care throughout the transition process by listening to patient needs and communicating clearly Identify the care team members paediatric and adult providers, the patient, and family/carers and define expectations of roles and responsibilities during and after the transition process Consider the nature and severity of ADHD symptoms when determining what services are required and identify appropriate resources for referral Patient options and expectations Set realistic expectations for both patients and their parents/carers and encourage the young adult to be as independent as possible Reference(s): Based on: 1. Able SL et al. Psychol Med. 2007;37: Powers RL et al. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2008;18: Hamed AM et al. Front Psychiatry. 2015;6: Monawar Hosain et al. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2012;21: Groom MJ et al. BMC Psychiatry. 2015;15: Rief SF. The ADHD Book of Lists: A Practical Guide for Helping Children and Teens With Attention Deficit Disorders. Second Edition. San Francisco, CA, USA: Jossey-Bass; In addition to the health-related concerns, there s a really broad range of other potential negative consequences of untreated adult ADHD. ADHD is associated with a lot of educational failure; likewise, people with ADHD have a difficulty getting and holding down jobs. As a consequence they likely have money problems, which is an added stressor. And finally, there are also a lot of associated social problems, including fewer stable relationships and inability to form new relationships. Reference(s): 1. Young S et al. BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:301. Now, let s discuss the challenges that we as psychiatrists have, in helping people with ADHD transition from childfocused to adult-focused healthcare services. I think some of the most important are: a lack of adequate services, not just health services, but also other support and specialty services that are needed at these critical stages in a young person's life. Also, knowing how to best engage young adults and their families and keep them in treatment over this period can be a challenge. So I think there are four main areas of focus that we should consider to help us address these challenges. One is patient clinician relationship: We want to consider earlier transition and ensure a continuity of care to help people through the transition process. We have to think about the clinician s responsibilities in care management, and paediatric clinicians should involve the patient and the family or carers in decision-making, as well as the adult mental health providers who will be treating the patient. We need to document current and previous responses to treatment very clearly so that the new clinicians can take over without too much of a gap. We need to think about how the nature and severity of problems will impact on what services are required. So, we need to identify appropriate resources to refer on to; and if you're making those referrals, not every patient will be a good match for the same provider, and hopefully you have been able to identify a few options for referral. Whilst it can be more of 5

6 a challenge for paediatric providers to identify adult mental health services, it is certainly helpful to try and pull together a list. Sometimes patient support groups can actually be very helpful in this respect or to attend joint educational events and networking there. Then we need to think about expectations: Expectations from the patients themselves and from their families. It's often difficult for parents who have been very involved in providing support for a young person throughout their lives to accept that they've got to take a step back and encourage independence. It's very important to discuss options openly with the patient and the family to prepare them for how a new service will be different and focus more on the patient, and less on the family and get them to think about how they re going to manage this. Summary Most children and adolescents with ADHD will continue to have symptoms in adulthood ADHD is associated with important risks, including mortality and psychiatric comorbidities Many adolescents discontinue treatment before transitioning to adult services Important to implement effective strategies to transition paediatric patients to adult services So in summary, I think we can say that most children and adolescents with ADHD will continue to have significant and serious problems with their ADHD that persist into adulthood. We also know that ADHD is associated with significant risks, including increase in mortality and psychiatric comorbidities. Currently, many adolescents drop out of treatment before making the transition into adult services. Therefore, it's essential for child, youth, and adult services, all to find ways to support each other and work together in laying the groundwork for transition with paediatric patients and then managing transitions for those with ADHD. And we need to think about how we'll support young adults and make it easier for them to continue or return to treatment when they decide to, as many of them will. 6

7 Implementing an Effective Transition to Adult Management of ADHD Philip Asherson, MBBS, MRCPsych, PhD King's College London The Maudsley Hospital London, United Kingdom Prof. Asherson: Hello, this is Philip Asherson from King s College London in the UK. Today I m going to talk about how to overcome the challenges of transitioning adolescent patients with ADHD from child to adult services. There s a wide variation in how ADHD presents, and also how it changes during the shift from adolescence to adulthood. At the same time, they may be transitioning from adolescent to adult mental health services, and they need appropriate assessment and support. In order to improve outcomes and have a successful transition, there are a number of things that we need to consider. In particular, we need to make sure that we have completed an updated assessment of the patient s level of ADHD symptoms, any comorbidities, and their current functioning in their daily lives. We need to ensure they have a good understanding of their own condition and support them in taking more responsibility for managing the disorder for themselves. We need to understand how to effectively engage with the patient and understand the barriers that might arise during the transition. These are the topics that I will address today in this presentation. We know that over half of adolescents with ADHD go on to have continued symptoms and impairments in adulthood. We also know that the disorder has different effects on people at different ages and that young people grow out of the disorder to varying degrees. For example, a typical trajectory would be that a young child with ADHD presents with mainly hyperactive and impulsive symptoms, but as they grow older into their school-age years, it s often the inattention, disorganisation, and forgetfulness that start to have more of an impact. So very often, by the time they are adults, the hyperactivity and impulsivity have declined, but they still have problems with inattention and these are the main problems affecting their ability to function in everyday life. Other symptoms may also emerge, such as emotional instability, low self-esteem, and sleep problems, as well as other psychiatric symptoms and disorders, which can increase the problems in education, work, and relationships. Of course, ADHD is a very heterogeneous condition. Some children will continue to show high levels of hyperactivity and impulsivity into adulthood and these can then translate into adult patients with a lot of mood instability, alcohol and drug abuse, and antisocial behaviour. Typical ADHD Trajectory Across the Ages Developmental Impact of ADHD 1 Optimal Transition of ADHD Services 1 Adult Mood instability Low self-esteem Relationship problems Difficulty organising, planning, and completing projects Motor accidents Alcohol and substance abuse Parenting style Pre-school Behavioural disturbance Feelings of parental incompetence School age Behavioural disturbance Academic impairment Some difficulty in social interaction often tolerated by peers Adolescent Not fulfilling exam potential Increasing lack of acceptability and tolerance by peers Lower self-esteem Smoking/ alcohol/drugs Antisocial behaviour College age Academic failure Not coping with daily tasks Occupational difficulties Low self-esteem Alcohol and substance abuse Injury/accidents Consider Patient Type Stable, engaged with treatment Unstable, problems to address Child and adult providers should Ensure adequate information transfer (ie, patient s history, current status, needs) Work together with parents/carers and patient, providing continuity over period of ~6 mo Match with the right adult provider Unstable patient needs clinician who understands how to manage challenging patients Abbreviation(s): ADHD: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Reference(s): 1. Based on: UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN). Handbook for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults. London, UK: Springer Healthcare Ltd; Reference(s): 1. Young S et al. BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:301. doi: /s

8 So given the wide range of clinical presentations in ADHD during the adolescent years, a structured transition plan is critical. The transition plan should involve both the child and adult services, the patient him or herself, as well as the parents or carers. The child service should ensure continuity of care by establishing a transition plan that lasts for approximately 6 months, depending on the needs of the patient. Domains to Assess During Transition From Child to Adult ADHD Services 1,2 Neurodevelopmental Impairment Cognitive impairments a Psychiatric Impairment Distress from the symptoms Low self-esteem Sleep problems Emotional regulation Development of comorbid disorders b Psychosocial Impairment Education and work Family and social relationships Coping with daily activities Risky behaviour c a Includes dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism spectrum disorder. b Includes substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and personality disorder. c For example, increased risk of mortality with speed driving. Reference(s): 1. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management. guidance/cg72/resources/attention-deficit-hyperactivitydisorder-diagnosis-and-management Accessed October 10, Asherson P. Expert Rev Neurother. 2005;5: As part of the transition plan, the adult service provider should perform a number of assessments to evaluate the severity and impact of ADHD. First is psychosocial impairment: How well are the patients functioning in their social life, in education and occupational settings? What is the quality of these functions? And how are mental health symptoms impacting on their daily function? Are their relationships suffering? Are risky behaviours such as drug abuse or antisocial behaviour becoming an issue? Next we need to assess the level of psychiatric impairment: What emotional and mood symptoms are present? Are the patients distressed by the symptoms they re experiencing? And are they mentally or physically restless? How is their sleep? Do they feel anxious or overwhelmed? And how much mental effort do they need to make to keep her focused on things they re doing? Patients presenting with mental health symptoms should be carefully evaluated to determine if these reflect poorly controlled ADHD, stress related to poor coping skills, or the other consequences of ADHD. On the other hand, they may meet the criteria for comorbid disorders such as anxiety or depression, the effects of alcohol or drug abuse, or the development of a personality disorder. ADHD is also often accompanied by a range of neurodevelopmental impairments, and these should also be evaluated. So you often see specific and general learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or low general cognitive ability. And co-occurring autism spectrum disorders are also prevalent. All of these neurodevelopmental problems can interfere with functioning and add to the day-to-day challenges of young adults with ADHD. Key Considerations to Optimise Management 1 Engage the patient Help adolescents or young adults understand their symptoms and impact on daily life Involve patients in their own care Optimise medical treatment Assess adherence to medication Review and adjust treatment as needed Provide psychosocial support Ensure patients are receiving adequate psychosocial support Reference(s): 1. Based on: Young S et al. BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:301. doi: /s So aside from completing patient assessments, there are a few other things that the adult services need to consider. One is how to evaluate how much the young adults are currently engaged in their treatment. Adolescents or young adults often underestimate their symptoms or they may not realise the impact these are having on their everyday lives. So this is something we need to be aware of and help them to better understand. Forming a good relationship with the patient from the start is essential to this process. Another very important issue is optimising medical treatment. We need to check that they are taking the medication. Are they using it in an appropriate way? And are they motivated to continue? How good is the control of ADHD symptoms? Is the medication at the correct dose? Particularly with stimulants that have short-acting effects, we need to make sure the patients are getting ample coverage from their medication as their daily activities change and often extend as they get older. This is one of the reasons for considering sustained-release medications. 8

9 Finally, we need to consider if they are getting the right level of psychosocial support that they need, or whether these services should be adjusted or intensified. Patient-Centred Strategies to Address Challenges and Increase Treatment Success in Adult ADHD 1-3 Compensatory Strategies Potential Barriers to Optimal Management 1 Exercise and sports Mindfulness training (eg, meditation, martial arts) Everyday strategies (eg, diaries, alarms as mobile apps) Potential barriers Support from parents/family members Lack of support Issues around medication Patient factors Developing hobbies and pursuing interests Positive role models Expert psychoeducation/coaching/educational support Fluctuating symptoms Reference(s): 1. Asherson P et al. Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3: Kooij SJ et al. BMC Psychiatry. 2010;10: P. Asherson, MD. Personal Communication. Reference(s): 1. P. Asherson, MD. Personal Communication. Of course, even with a thorough transition plan in place, some barriers may interfere with the ideal management of patients. Patients may be disengaged or disinterested in the process. Family members may be critical or unsupportive. And young people themselves with ADHD may be influenced strongly by peer groups and could, for example, get drawn into risk-taking situations. For some adolescents, there is also the problem of stigma about taking medication so they may stop treatment and actually start looking for alternatives, including drugs such as cannabis. Others may feel they do not wish to be dependent on a medication to function, or may be bothered by side effects. For some patients, the on/off effects of stimulant medication may also be bothersome, and this may be a good reason for using sustained-release medications with a gradual onset and offset of effects. Another very common problem in adolescents with ADHD is emotion dysregulation. So we have to help them understand that symptoms such as irritability, frustration, and anger are often part of ADHD and can also respond to treatment of ADHD. While there are a range of challenges for adolescents transitioning to adulthood with ADHD, there are also a number of compensatory strategies that we can discuss with our patients. Exercise and sport may be particularly important for some patients. Mindfulness-based interventions, such as meditation or a more physical form such as martial arts, may also help some patients to focus their mind and reduce the mental clutter that is often going on in ADHD. Also, encouraging patients to identify hobbies that they enjoy can help. Using simple, everyday strategies to get organised can also be very important: setting alarms or reminders on a mobile phone to help manage day-to-day tasks, for example, or asking for educational support or parental support to assist with planning and timekeeping. Experts in providing practical advice to adults with ADHD with strategies for dealing with problems such as restlessness, forgetfulness, and motivation can be invaluable. And lastly, helping young adults with ADHD to achieve their potential and understand that many people with ADHD can succeed in life. And, of course, there are many positive role models to look toward, and coping strategies that can be learned from others with ADHD. 9

10 Summary: Strategies for a Successful Transition in Adult ADHD 1 Ensure patients and families understand the symptoms and commonly co-occurring problems experienced by young adults with ADHD Evaluate the symptoms and levels of functioning in social, educational, and occupational settings in young adult patients Engage with young adult patients to improve their understanding, optimise medication, and provide individualised psychosocial support Effective transition to adult management of ADHD Reference(s): 1. Asherson P et al. J Atten Disord. 2012;16(suppl):20S-38S. So in summary, it's important that the adult ADHD services and everyone involved in the transition from child to adult services has a very good understanding of the full range of symptoms and impairments experienced by young adults with ADHD. As part of this process, we need to be able to evaluate not only the symptoms of ADHD, but the impact these have on their daily lives. We need to work closely with young adults to help them to understand the disorder and to engage effectively with the treatment process and support the transfer of care from parents to the individual. Finally, we need to ensure that their treatment both pharmacological and non-pharmacological is optimised to meet their needs and preferences. Narrator: This has been an activity published by PeerVoice. Please click the Evaluation tab to share your thoughts on this activity. 10

11 Test your knowledge, share your thoughts, and download activity materials at: ADHD From Adolescence to Adulthood: Closing the Gap in the Continuum of Care This activity is supported by an educational grant from Shire. PeerVoice is an independent, professional medical publishing concern focused on identifying the unmet needs of the medical community and filling those needs by reporting information pertaining to clinically relevant advances and developments in the science and practice of medicine. PeerVoice is responsible for the selection of this activity s topics, the preparation of editorial content, and the distribution of this activity. The preparation of PeerVoice activities is supported by written agreements that clearly stipulate and enforce the editorial independence of PeerVoice and the faculty presenters. The faculty may discuss unapproved products or uses of these products in certain jurisdictions. Faculty presenters have been advised to disclose any reference to an unlabelled or unapproved use. No endorsement of unapproved products or uses is made or implied by coverage of these products or uses in our activities. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions. For approved prescribing information, please consult the manufacturer's product monograph. The faculty may discuss unapproved products or uses of these products in certain jurisdictions. Faculty presenters have been advised to disclose any reference to an unlabelled or unapproved use. No endorsement of unapproved products or uses is made or implied by coverage of these products or uses in our activities. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions. For approved prescribing information, please consult the manufacturer's product monograph. The materials presented here are used with the permission of the authors and/or other sources. These materials do not necessarily reflect the views of PeerVoice or any of its supporters , PeerVoice PeerVoice 1140 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor New York, NY 10036